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Dali Tangseng Temple
Dali, Yunnan, China
South of Xiachong Village in Wanqiao Town, within Yunnan's Erhai Lake basin, stands the quiet Dali Tangseng Temple. This small sanctuary blends Buddhist and Daoist traditions. Local lore says that the Buddhist monk Xuanzang crossed Erhai Lake by boat from nearby Guasheng Village. A crow's sudden cry startled his white horse, which kicked the sacred scriptures into the water. Fish and loaches swam to the rescue, pushing the wet texts back to the shore. This legend inspired the temple's name.
Inside, the temple functions as a Daoist sanctuary. The shrines house detailed statues of the Jade Emperor's family. Beneath the temple grounds lies a natural geothermal fissure-ascending spring, geologically cataloged as S11.
Today, it operates without a formally appointed abbot. Permanently residing lay devotees sweep the courtyards and maintain the shrines. Local villagers manage the daily upkeep. Visitors can feel the warmth of the rising steam, hear the quiet rustle of the devotees' brooms, and contemplate a place where folklore, faith, and geology meet.